A slap in the face to all dragons

[flemmings]

Ganked from i_am_zan:

The Chinese government is reported to have decided against the dragon as its official Olympic mascot because of its connotations abroad.

I am so sad. And, err, if western dragons are all evil fire-breathing maiden-devouring wyrms, what about the red dragon of Wales? Which see. As also this which I think I must buy.

Comments

[incandescens]

Now that's a crying shame.

(I remember reading the Green Smoke books when I was younger, but I cannot remember the author's name without looking them up.)

[ayonoi.livejournal.com]

damn it, let me share your disappointment with you. I was hoping for either the dragon or the Monkey King. *sniff*

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Thing being, anywhere there are Chinese-kei (descended) people around- which is a pretty large chunk of the globe, face it- Chinese dragons are well thought of. Dragon dances- dragon boats- dragon baseball caps of which I have half a dozen- dragon courts and dragon towns. We do know the difference, truly.

[summer-queen.livejournal.com]

Well damn. And I am rather fond of the Welsh dragon myself. He makes for a rather attractive flag.

[(Anonymous)]

How troubling. This means the Chinese don't understand us at all. Yeah, Western dragons are evil -- and we think that's f--in' cool. So a dragon would be the perfect mascot. =)

Geh -- oh, and I'll send my addy to you now. Dunno how long it'll last, though, if I get the job.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Well, time enough for a Christmas card at least?

I can see why the Chinese wouldn't want to be associated with a western dragon in any way shape or form. Especially, y'know if they think of themselves as benevolent wingless long who, yeah, cause the occasional flood that kills hundred of thousands: regrettable but unavoidable the fields must be fertilized etc etc. (Popular notions of one's own country are a special field of delusional thinking, appreciable only by outsiders. See under: 'Polite Canadians' and 'America Defender of the World.')

I think I'm mostly distressed that the Chinese *care.* Probably a good thing from the end-view of eternity, but still... gakkari shita.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Wheee. Sounds exciting!

[takumashii.livejournal.com]

A Welsh food firm has been warned that it could face legal action for not explaining that its 'Welsh Dragon Sausages' do not in fact contain dragon. (http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=dragon-sausage-food-farce&method=full&objectid=18116784&siteid=50082-name_page.html)

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Those lying H0rson Welshmen!

But the contents label *already* says pork. WTF? '100% pork and pork by-product. No dragons were destroyed in the making of this product'?

Sheesh.

Maybe ...

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

They were worried about people thinking that there would be Komodo Dragon meat in them. You never know! I'm surprised it is happening in Wales.

Re: Maybe ...

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Kodomo dragon was what leapt to my mind as well. Then things is poisonous. But I think it's pure Brit bureaucracy- no sesne of humour, propportion, or when it's making an ass of itself.

Re: Maybe ...

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

The gremlins did awful things to my spelling there...

I was sad too...

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

I love Dragons...all forms and all ethnicities of them...When I say the article I couldn't believe it!

Just insane!!!

Sorry to be bringer of the news! >.

Sorry

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

Oops! 'Say' should've been saw!

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Noooooooooooo!

[mauvecloud.livejournal.com]

The dragon, er, I mean, 'long' is too flashy as mascot. One person dressed in panda costume (panda is the animal I associate most with PRC the nation) or a troupe of dragon dancers brandishing sticks stuck to a stuffed 'long'?

Also, panda is easier to draw. (right, innane is fun) =P

'Long' does have negative connotation but in a limited local setting. I have no idea how this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaolongn%C3%BC) got turned into euphemism for foreign-born prostitutes in LRD?

really?

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

Wow! I learn something new everyday, and my friends must be right...I am a lousy native as I knows nuffink about my homeland! ^__^

Re: really?

[mauvecloud.livejournal.com]

come to think of it, what you see on that sembang ayam site is not really a good representation of LRD.
Still, let me spam you with linkages:

Reference to Dragon Lady: http://www.talkingcock.com/html/article.php?sid=1641

References to Xiao Long Nu (pin-yinized Little Dragon Lady):
http://www.talkingcock.com/html/article.php?sid=1605
http://www.talkingcock.com/html/article.php?sid=1577

OMG...is that thing still running. ^__^

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

Hubby who is the Ang Moh around here finds it all highly amusing. What amused him also as he took lessons at Jamiyah was tickled to note the 'hotel' next to the mosque in Geylang.

Anyhow thanks for the link... I haven't actually picked up a local paper in months, so i was not aware of the connections to the name. Probably just as well. Never mind the site, but these days I'm not too keen on much things local...its pretty easy to get disillusioned and then indulge in head burying in sand around here. Ahem. ^_~

Eh! Its a funny old world.

Sowing fear and doubt...

[mauvecloud.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is still running, and will continue to run as long as the gahmen need a handy tool to trap the unwary seditious.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

(No really, I'll get it right eventually)

One person dressed in panda costume (panda is the animal I associate most with PRC the nation) or a troupe of dragon dancers brandishing sticks stuck to a stuffed 'long'?

A troupe of dragon dancers brandishing sticks stuck to a stuffed 'long'.

Entrance ceremonies, folks. A man in a panda suit shambling about has no dignity. Disneyworld Mickey Mouse. Cringeworthy. A troupe of dragon dancers wins hands down for ceremony and tradition.

[mauvecloud.livejournal.com]

A man in a panda suit shambling about has no dignity.

But I always think of the late Paramount Leader (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Xiaoping) when I see that WWF logo! (Right, cute and cuddly-looking and seemingly harmless, he would just bite your hands off and exile you to gulags, if you gather and protest in the Square of Heavenly Peace Gate)

[mauvecloud.livejournal.com]

yuck, he was born in the Year of the Worm! I giv up. -_-;;;

[shalimar1001.livejournal.com]

I think that the news is probably not true, though some *elites* do advocate such proposal, which makes everybody just so mad every where online.

[shalimar1001.livejournal.com]

Add some more episodes just for fun:
Since the elites want to get rid of the dragons, so lots of people start to speculate what kind of symbol should be used. Some say phoenix, some say tiger, and there is someone from probably Hunan province says that we should use the wild pig. Such idea makes everybody freak again, yelling "using it as your symbol, not mine!"
Then one controversial writer of the younger generation stated in his blog: Maybe we should simply use panda. It is lovely, precious and harmless. It reminds nothing of negative impression, and it is easily misread as Prada.
All hail Hanhan! He always gets the point!

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

it is easily misread as Prada

No no no. Prada and pandas exist in different worlds- the one so natural, large and cute except-when-it-bites-your-hands-off, the other so contrived and expensive.

Even so, pandas just aren't a proper Olympics symbol. Fat and slow-moving is not the idea you want to convey.

[shalimar1001.livejournal.com]

No no no, most of the people think that professor advanced this proposal out of nothing better to do. The way the professor interpreted his intention sounds like aiming to enhance the image of China in the western culture, and it is not only regarding the symbol used in Olympic Game.
The writer I mentioned just ridiculed the professor's intention.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it. Let the effete intellectuals stay out of this. Dragons 'r' China!